Healing for Heather

What a difference one day can make.  On October 20th, 2019, Heather Rice was busy planning a November wedding to marry the love of her life, Phil Darby.  The very next day, on October 21st, she was taken into emergency surgery to remove a large mass on her right ovary.  Immediately following the surgery, the surgeon's report was encouraging, the mass appeared to be a benign dermoid and she would only need a few weeks of recovery!  A few days later, when the pathology report was received, Heather was called back into the surgeon's office to hear the words no woman wants to hear; you have ovarian cancer.  At age 31, with a wedding weeks away and dreams of one-day having children with Phil, Heather's life was thrown off course.  She pushed through the initial shock, married Phil in a beautiful outdoor ceremony, and, as recommended by her surgeon, spent 2 weeks of quality time traveling with him.  The following months were filled with another surgery to remove 13 lymph nodes, complications that landed her in the hospital over Christmas, and a tough, painful recovery.  Again, the reports were encouraging, it appeared that the cancer was contained inside the dermoid and she wouldn't need to go through chemotherapy.   But once again, she received devastating news during a post-surgery checkup; her painful recovery wasn't normal, her cancer had spread to her liver and had grown to 3.8 cm in only a few months.  This treatment plan would not only include surgery, but also a procedure to harvest eggs from her remaining ovary,  and chemotherapy.  
On June 23rd, Heather will receive round 1 of 6 chemotherapy treatments that will be administered every 3 weeks.  She is a beautiful, strong, otherwise healthy young woman who remains positive despite the constant challenges, but she needs our support more than ever.  Let's wrap our love around this wonderful young woman by sending prayers and good thoughts as well as by lessening the very heavy financial burden to her and Phil, who has been steadfast in his support during this most difficult and uncertain time.   The out of pocket expense has already exceeded $30,000 and will undoubtedly climb higher before she kicks its ass and rings in 2021 healthy, happy, and sporting her beautiful smile. 
Thank you for your prayers and support, Heather and Phil are forever grateful and vow to pay it forward.